Puzzle.



A. J. B. CL MENT. PUZZLE.

APPLICATION TILED SBPT.11, 1912.

1,080,955, Patented Dec.9,1913.

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PUZZLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec, 9, 1913.

Application filed September 11, 1912. Serial No. 719,841.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED J. B. CLEM- ENT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Plainfield, in the county of Union and State. of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Puzzles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in puzzles and more particularly to a game or puzzle which involves a series of communicating channels in which balls or spheres are adapted to travel, the object of the invention being to provide a game or puzzle with a series of balls, each ball representing a candidate for the presidency, and of a different color.

The object of the game is not only to put the favored candidate in the White House indicated, but in preventing any one of the others from reaching the coveted goal.

Another object of the invention is to provide a game or puzzle of the above character which will possess advantages in points of efliciency and durability, is inexpensive to manufacture and at the same time is simple in construction and operation.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, pointed out in the claim and shown in the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view of a puzzle constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view.

Referring more particularly to the drawings 1 indicates the base board which is provided upon its outer periphery with the vertically disposed annular flange 2 having the spaced inwardly extending annular flanges 3 formed upon the upper edge thereof. Arranged between the flanges 3 is the outer periphery of a circular glass top 4. Arranged upon the base board are the vertical circular rings or flanges 5 forming a set of runways inclosed within said rings. The series of runways 6 which are formed by the vertical flanges 5 produce a set of vertical channels or passage ways between said rings and the latter are provided with a series of openings as at 7 which are arranged so as to provide communication between the circular channels or passage ways.

It will be apparent that the openings 7 in the flanges 5 open directly toward one side of the body of the device which construction forces the player to use more skill in shifting the various balls through the passage ways to prevent any one of the other balls from reaching the goal except the one which the player has picked to win. The arrows shown in the drawings indicate the course which the selected ball must travel before it reaches the goal which is indicated at 8. The goal 8 is formed by providing a resilient piece of sheet metal or other suitable material, one end of which is secured to the side wall 2, the other end of the strip being curved inwardly as shown at 9 and provided at its outer free end with an inwardly extending flange 10. Formed in the base board 1 is a depression 11 which extends inwardly from the flange 10 and forms part of the goal, said depression being adapted to receive any one of the balls representing the various candidates. It will be understood that should any other one of the balls than the one selected roll into the depression, it would be held fixed thereby preventing the entrance of the selected ball or candidate and ending the game.

The game or puzzle is operated by each player selecting the ball representing their favored candidate, only one person playing at one time. The selected ball is moved through the circles and the openings 7 by tilting the device at the required angle, until the center ring or starting point is reached, the ball is then moved through the openings and through the circles following the course indicated by the arrows to the goal which is indicated at 8 and representing the White House. The ball upon nearing the end of its travel strikes against the curved surface 13 formed upon the enlarged end 14 of the outer ring which guides the ball toward the opening formed by the flange 10 and the depression 11. As stated before, the object of the game is not only to put the selected candidate in the goal or WVhite House, but in preventing any one of the others from reaching the goal which may be done by the skilful work of the player.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated six balls, each ball representing a candidate for the presidency and each ball bearing a different color, but it will be understood that more or less balls may be employed or the color changed, if desired.

While I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, it will be obvious that various changes in the details ofconstruction and in the proportions may be resorted to for successfully carrying my invention into practice Without sacrificing any of the novel features or departing from the scope of the appended claim.

hat I claim is In a device of the character described, the combination of a base board, a vertically extending annular flange formed integral with the outer periphery thereof, a transparent cover mounted upon said flange, a series of vertically extending rings mounted upon said bars and provided with openings at one side thereof, which open in alinement from a goal arranged adjacent the flange and 25 openings in the rings, said goal comprising a strip of metal bent inwardly and outwardly, an inwardly pro ect1ng flange formed upon the inner end thereof, in combination with the balls or spheres, and one end of the 30 outer of said rings being provided with an enlarged portion having a curved surface against which the halls-or spheres are adapted to strike to be guided into the goal.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiiX my 3 signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALFRED'J. B. CLEMENT. Witnesses:

MARY J. MATHEWS, LOUIS A. CLEMENT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing tlie Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

